Our Engagement Team

Our people are the most important aspect of the service we offer and the most critical element of a successful relationship. The service team assembled of individuals who are considered top performers. Each member possesses exceptional talent, technical ability in accounting, operational and financial matters, solid judgement and initiatives in maintaining open communications with you and creativity in developing new ideas. Beyond their professional experience, the individuals embody the personal chemistry, motivation and enthusiasm most likely to ensure smooth and efficient working relationships with your people.

JIM RUANE

Jim has over twenty-six years as a consultant with leading advisory firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Huron Consulting and currently as CEO of Whitney Hill Partners LLC.   Jim has provided a broad-based selection of services to customer both in the United States and abroad. Such services provided have been executed in the crisis, turnaround and non-crisis, turnaround environments. Specific services include corporate lending and related products, project financing, international trade financing, leasing, leverage lease investment, business valuations, corporate finance, merger and acquisition advisory capacities.

He was with NationsBank (Bank of America) for ten years during which time he structured and administered some of the largest project finance and traditional credit facilities in the bank focusing on energy, cogeneration and public utilities in the Corporate Lending Group. For three years he was in the Corporate Finance Group of the Investment Bank where he raised equity and structured leveraged lease transactions for a wide range of industries. In addition he worked on energy merger and acquisition transactions for the major bank clients. During his tenure at NationsBank, Jim was constantly assigned to assist the workout group on complex energy projects. During his last two years at the bank Jim was responsible for the workout strategy for 250 companies in Carolinas. For the past twenty-six years, he has advised debtors, secured lenders and unsecured creditors in pre-bankruptcy, bankruptcy, and post bankruptcy environments providing operational and strategic consulting and financial advisory services to healthy companies.

As a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trustee for twenty-two years, Jim has been trustee in some of the largest and more complex cases in the southeast with significant success in providing solid recoveries for the creditors.

Early in his career he was COO in privately held coal Customers and served in the United States Marine Corps managing logistics, trucking operations and serving as Aide-de-Camp to the AWC of the 1st Marine Air Wing.

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration, Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business, Durham, NC.

Bachelor of Science, Economics, St. Francis University, Loretto, PA.
         President's Award for outstanding academic performance.
         Dean's List

Certificate, Accounting, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

NCNB Commercial Loan Officer Development Program, Charlotte, NC
         Selected "Outstanding Analyst of the Month"

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP), Certification conducted by The Turnaround Management Association Approved Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trustee by the Justice Department of the United States with current security clearances
FINRA-Series 7, Series 63

AFFILIATIONS

Former board member of the National Board of the Turnaround Management Association
Former board member of the Board of the Carolinas Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association

Engagement Team